Ability Works 2023 Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT 2022

Supporting Independence, Inclusion & Employment

LETTER FROM THE CEO

2022 has been a year of change, expansion, and growth. In 2022, Laura LaGodney stepped down as CEO of Ability Works. She leaves behind a legacy of making significant progress towards quality programming, impactful state contributions through her involvement in various organizations, and an established visionary team leadership approach. She was instrumental in securing the grant with the Red Horse Battalion which provided a much-needed circular driveway. She spearheaded bringing technology to all facets of service delivery. Her strength and guidance persevered through the pandemic and guided Ability Works to ensure stability while continuing to be an industry leader.

This year, we continued to focus our energies on community inclusion and expanding services. We worked diligently with the Erie County Board of Developmental Disabilities (ECBDD) to transition a program for individuals with transportation challenges to our agency. We also partnered with Precision Automotive Plastics in Bellevue to provide a group employment option for individuals.

We capitalized on our relationships within the community and now have more individuals volunteering and integrated into their communities. We are proud of the community partnerships that we have established with: First Congregational Church, OHgo, Care N Share, Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Humane Society, The Chapel, Ghostly Manor, Save-A-Lot, and many others. The experiences that the individuals have gained from working with these partners is invaluable.

It was an exciting year for our Employment and Transition Services Team. They placed more individuals, served more students in Summer Youth, and capitalized on the relationships with area schools to offer more Youth Transition services.

In the state of Ohio, there are over 30,000 Direct Support Professionals (DSP) employed. DSPs help individuals with disabilities work, live, and play in their community of choice. The DSP recruitment and retention rate is at crisis level. On December 13th, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities launched a county-board funded Direct Support Professional (DSP) retention payment initiative for agency waiver providers in the form of House Bill 45. This investment aims to assist Ohio’s developmental disability system in addressing the workforce crisis through retention payments for DSPs. We realize the invaluable asset we have in our staff and value their dedication to the individuals we serve.

2023 looks to be even more exciting as we open a new hub in Lorain County and focus on growing our fundraising efforts and partnerships.

As Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”

This statement captures the essence of the Ability Works team. Each member is committed to being the difference maker and insightful driver behind our growth. I can’t convey how deeply grateful I am to the Board of Directors for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this team. I am also deeply appreciative to the staff here at Ability Works for their hard work and help during this year of transition.

Doreen Ehlert CEO of Ability Works

SUPPORTING INDEPENDENCE INCLUSION, AND EMPLOYMENT

We expanded our space

We finished a 3-year-long project, adding a wrap-around driveway to our building. Additionally, we added a third Day Habilitation room to our building.

We added a new location

We signed the lease and began preparing the space for our new Day Services Program location in Lorain, opening in 2023.

Furthered Education for future DSPs

We offered more tours to EHOVE students, working towards building the future DSP workforce. This resulted in the beginning of our internship program to allow more opportunities for future DSPs and administrative staff to get hands-on experience in the field of Developmental Disabilities (DD).

We grew the number of individuals we transport by 60%

We took over the Provider of Last Resort transportation services from the county board.

We grew the number of individuals in the community by 62.5%

We worked to get as many of our Adult Day Support program clients into our STEP program. We also transitioned our Career Academy to a STEP group, allowing them the freedom of group employment opportunities and community fun/volunteering.

We volunteered and supported 16 other organizations

We are always so thankful for the support we get from others. This year we worked to expand our give-back efforts. Our staff supported the Special Olympics, Care & Share, and Volunteers of America Crossroads Halfway Shelter. Then our STEP program volunteered regularly at Erie Metro Parks, Second Harvest, OVH, The Chapel, The Humane Society of Erie County, Victory Kitchen, Salvation Army, Back to the Wild, Erie County Dog pound, OHGO, Ghostly Manor, First Christian Church, First Congregational Church, and Care & Share.

YOUTH SERVICES

In 2022 were served 140 youths through our Summer Youth Work Experience (SYWE), and our PreEmployment Transition Services (Pre-ETS). These services have proven essential to introducing students to the expectations, demands, and rewards of real-world employment and to reinforce these skills and topics prior to beginning job-seeking or independent employment.

Pre-ETS courses were completed with over 80 students attending over a dozen schools in six different counties in 2022. In our Pre-ETS classes, students 14 to 22 years of age participate in discussions, exploration, activities, and skill building in 5 core areas: Workplace Readiness, SelfAdvocacy, Job Exploration, Work Based Learning, and Post-Secondary Options.

Many of our Pre-ETS students go on to participate in our SYWE to put their new skills to the test! Our 2022 SYWE program served over 60 students last summer. We were thankful for the continued participation of our veteran sites- Back to the Wild, Erie County Dog Warden and Sandusky County Dog Warden. This year, we welcomed Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio and Marc’s, as new participating sites in Lorain County.

Supported 140 students in furthering their career

Students at Second Harvest and Marc’s had the opportunity to experience the job tasks and responsibilities associated with retail and community service industries. We could not have done it without our awesome job coaches and Supported Employment staff who transported, taught and guided our students through their summer job. Our SYWE continues to provide transition-aged students with the hands-on opportunity to experience and develop their workplace readiness skills needed for success in their future employment goals.

As our Pre-ETS and SYWE programs continue to grow, we look forward to working with more students to help them explore their interests and build employment skills.

NOT ONE SERVICE FITS ALL DAVID BLOOMFIELD

David has attended Ability Works services for many years. Through the years, he has participated in different services Ability Works has to offer.

David recently was in our Career Academy, a vocational habilitation service, where he learned work and life skills while also working a minimal amount at the facility. He then transitioned out of our Career Academy into a community based program having some real work experience volunteering at several different places throughout the community like Second Harvest Food bank, the Erie County Humane Society, and the Erie County Dog pound just to name a few.

David has also participated in the various group employment sites we have been able to offer with most recent being Precision Automotive in Bellevue. David is a part of the crew that works there a couple days a week, with a Job Coach, to oversee production.

David is also a great member of his community. He has volunteered for the Berlin Heights Basket Festival, in charge of trash removal for several years. He is a member of the Aktion Club of Sandusky, attending meetings and different volunteer

opportunities available. He also volunteered alongside Ability Works CEO at the Sandusky Donut Fest, where he helped throughout the day with setting up, serving donuts, and taking everything down.

Being able to provide a variety of services to individuals such as David giving the varying options, means we can find the best way to support each individual.

We serve individuals across six different counties. We primarily serve Erie County, with our employment services reaching all other counties. In 2022 we began the process of opening a Day Service location in Lorain.

EMPLOYERS

Our Supported Employment department had a successful year in 2022. We placed a total of 50 individuals in jobs and served over 65 individuals through job development, continued job coaching, and additional career services.

Throughout all of our employment services, we supported 215 individuals in their paths to employment.

Thank you to the area businesses that hired our individuals, provided a worksite for our Summer Youth Work Experience, or provided a group employment site.

5 Below

African Wildlife Safari

Amherst Manor

Aramark

Asbury Care Center at The Brooke

Back to The Wild

BGSU Firelands

Bon Secours Mercy Health

Boots to Grasses

Cabelas Avon

CAC Headstart Sandusky

Cedar Point Sports Center

Concord Care Center

Dave’s Food Mart

Elroy’s Deli

Elyria Foundry

Erie County Dog Warden

Erie Metro Parks

Fazoli’s

Fisher Titus Medical Center

Fraternal Order of Eagles in Clyde

Freight House Pub and Grill

Freudenberg

Friendship APL

FRMC

Hampton Inn

Home Depot

Homestead Funds- Virginia

Jim’s Pizza Box- Milan

Kalahari

Longhorn Steakhouse

Lorain Estates

Lowe’s Sandusky

Lowe’s Lorain

Marc’s In Avon

Marc’s Lorain

Marc’s - Elyria

Meijer - Sandusky

Mickey Mart

Miller’s SuperValu-Clyde

Miller’s SuperValu-Norwalk

Neighborhood Alliance Daycare

Ohio Veterans Home

Pet Supplies Plus

Precision Automotive

Raising Cane’s

Salvation Army

Sandusky Animal Hospital

Sandusky Bay Pancake House

Sandusky County Dog Warden

Save-A-Lot

Second Harvest Food Bank

Share and Care- Fremont

Shurtech

Speedway

Sprenger Elms Retirement VillageWellington

Super Fitness-Toledo

The Sandusky Mall

TJ Maxx

Village Pizza House

Vita Restaurant

Walmart-Norwalk

Walnut Hill

Feeds

Ward Catering

Wee Care Day Care

Wendy’s-Huron

YMCA-French Creek

Zuppaman

50 Individuals Found Jobs

NOW PROVIDING 24/7 CARE

Since 2015, Ability Works has been providing “drop-in” Homemaker Personal Care (HPC) services to a handful of individuals. The service consists of assisting with daily living skills both in the home and in the community, as well as providing access to the community for things such as appointments, shopping, banking, and recreational events.

In March of 2022, we were presented with an opportunity to provide HPC services to two ladies in their home that require staffing 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Although it seemed like a huge challenge, we took a leap into the unchartered waters and said “Yes”.

Four of the staff that had worked in the home under another provider were committed to the ladies and agreed to join our team. This allowed the ladies no change in routine, which has proven quite successful for them.

As of April 1, 2022, Ability Works became the sole provider in the home. The ladies continue to live independently, and the good news is that because we stepped in, they were able to remain in their home!

DONATIONS & GRANTS

60,676 Donated $

Thanks to generous donations, grants, and fundraising, we were able to continue growing, expanding and improving our services.

We added a third Day Habilitation Room to our Sandusky Day Service Program. Our transportation department added 4 new vehicles to their fleet; a mix of cars/vehicles and one hybrid minivan. We also were able to complete our 2019 project of building a wrap around driveway to improve our transportation drop off/pick up.

Our Sensory Space continues to provide a free community opportunity where children and adults can learn and grow.

Back yard in 2019

New Driveway and Parking lot in 2022

FUNDRAISING

Thank you to all of our event sponsors who supported our 2022 fundraising efforts. This was a record year for fundraisers and donations.

We held our first annual Golf Scramble, hosting more than a full course of golfers raising over $10,000 to go directly to our services.

Our Sandusky 0.5K and Donut Eating Contest came together for the first annual Sandusky Donut Fest. Donut/beer tasting then donut eating contests raised us over $11,000 profit.

After a canceled show, and one over zoom, we held our annual Spaghetti Dinner & Talent Show in person with almost 200 in attendance, raising over $2,200.

None of this would have been achieved without the tireless help of our volunteers, and sponsors. For a look at what great businesses and organizations have supported us, head to page 11...we suggest you support these awesome businesses who support us!

We are always looking to expand our fundraising efforts. In 2022 we began upping our fundraising efforts.

We worked towards filling our calendar with a fundraiser every month, whether it’s a large scale event or a dine to donate night.

We also pushed our staff to find more opportunities to connect with area businesses to build potential partnerships and/or sponsorships.

48,467 Raised $

FUNDRAISERS

Spaghetti Dinner & Talent Show

Golf Scramble

Sandusky Donut Fest

Kona Ice

Applebee’s

Buffalo Wild Wings

Raising Cane’s 5 Below

ClothesBin

Kroger Community Rewards

Amazon Smiles

REMOVING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS

CHLOE | MICKEY MART

Ability Works has recognized one of the largest barriers for individuals with developmental disabilities finding employment, is first finding transportation.

In 2022, we assumed the transportation services previously provided by the Erie County Board of Developmental Disabilities. This service was designed to serve those individuals that have no other source of transportation.

Our transportation department previously served those in our day service programs. This new service gives us the staffing and means to transport individuals to employment, participate in group outings, and access community events.

One of our riders, Chloe, has worked at Mickey Mart in Vermilion for over seven years. She is very outgoing and

LOOKING FORWARD

loves helping and interacting with her favorite customers.

Chloe was the first individual we placed in a job at Mickey Mart. This lead to a long partnership between Ability Works and Mickey Mart placing many individuals in jobs across northern Ohio.

Our future is built on the progressive ideas of our team. Our determination and focus will help continue to build on the Ability Works foundation and Increase our presence and solidify our future. This is exactly what our team is doing right now through 2023.

Expanding our day services and opening a location in Lorain

• Growing our community Integration service (STEPs) and broadening our volunteerism

• Creating more inclusive opportunities within our community for day services

• Building relationships with more organizations to increase fundraising, donations and grants

• Increasing our Summer Youth sites to provide more work opportunities to transition students

• Focusing on sustainable measures that will strengthen our organization financially

• Investing in our staff by increasing incentives, trainings and communication

• Growing our portfolio of services by providing more employment opportunities in group settings

SUPPORTED 316 CLIENTS

Employment | 75

We served 75 individuals on their path to Employment through Job Development, Job Coaching, & Career Academy

Youth Training | 140

We served 140 youth in their journey to employment through our Summer Youth Work Experience and our Employment Transition classes

Day Programs | 84

We helped 84 individuals become more independent through our Adult Day Support program, Homemaker Personal Care services, and STEP program.

Transportation | 64

We provided transportation to 64 individuals going to day programs, employment sites, or educational opportunities

Sensory Space | 27

We served 27 individuals in our sensory space

SPONSORS

5 Guys

Applebee’s

Aramark

Badamy Insurance

Bait House Brewery

Balance Nutrition

Balloon Babe Barnes

Blissfully Made

Brenda and Marshall Brown

Buffalo Wild Wings

C & C Donut Factory

Capizzi’s Pizzeria

Catawba Island Brewery

Chick Fila A

CLAG

Cleveland Clinic

Cold Water Creek

Coles Group/Mickey Mart

Custom Concrete & Design

DJ Swiss

Doughin Crazy

Dunkin

Fazoli’s

Firelands Health

Firelands Federal Credit Union

Firelands Provisions

Fisher Titus

FOP Lake Erie Lodge #17

FOPA Lodge #35

For Love With Love Charity / Noble

Fun Company / H2 Properties

Freudenberg

General Services Co

Greater Cleveland Aquarium

Gutterpy Tents

Health and Fitness Equipment

Centers

Hohler Furnace

Holden Arboretum and Cleveland

Botanical garden

Home Depot

Huron Donut Shop

Jolly Donuts

Kona Ice

LEWCO

Lindsley Insurance

Liner Legal

Lowe’s

Meijer

Mrs Fields

n2y

Nana & Papa’s Kettle Corn

North Coast Bash

Norwalk Eagles #711

Norwalk Furniture

Paul’s Carry Out

Payne Nickles & Company

Pelz Lettering

Pic Nest

Sandusky House of Donuts

Sandusky Ventra

Saucy Brew Works

Sawmill

Secure Sight

Sirna and Sons

The Clark Family

The Good Life Travel

Tittle Perlmuter Law

TPI Efficiency

Tracy Susanna

Twin Oast

UAW Local 1216

UBS Financial Services

Vacationland Federal Credit Union

Vine and Olive

Ward Catering

Water Street Financial

Wendy’s

Wolff Bros. Supply, Inc

Zuppaman

DONORS

4-H Youth Development

Dr & Mrs Harry Stenzel

First Congregational Church

Jerry & Sharon Guerra

Linda Armstrong

Ron and Tracy Guerra

Schmid Architects

The Clark Family

GRANTS

Dorn Foundation

Frohman Foundation

Wightman Wieber Foundation

APEX Clean Energy

Buckeye Broadband

Jerod Blakely

Katy Laser

N2Y Employees

Sarah Furey

Tracey Susana

BOARD 2022

Alan Furey | Board President

Cindy Glovinksy | Board Vice President

Don Kleist | Board Treasurer

Deb Sutter | Board Secretary

Tim Dempsey | Board Member

Judina Marsh | Board Member

Gavin Sutter | Board Member

Hannah Romell | Board Member

Laura LaGodney | Board Member COMING

We’ve Got Talent | March 23th

Golf Scramble | May 5th

Sandusky Donut Fest | October 14th